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Service Learning Community Partners

Community organizations and agencies play an integral role in the Service Learning experience. They are co-educators with specific expertise in the issues related to their organizations and in most cases the communities they serve. Service Learning Community Partners are useful to every stage of Service Learning .

Partners can assist in the preparation stage by deepening student’s knowledge of issues, they can serve as a hub where the actual action takes place and they can facilitate discussions that allow students to merge course content with their service experience.

Service Learning Community Partners

Community organizations and agencies play an integral role in the service learning experience. They are co-educators with specific expertise in the issues related to their organizations and in most cases the communities they serve. service learning Community Partners are useful to every stage of service learning.

Partners can assist in the preparation stage by deepening student’s knowledge of issues, they can serve as a hub where the actual action takes place and they can facilitate discussions that allow students to merge course content with their service experience

service learning Community Partners are community organizations that provide civic action and service learning opportunities for classroom-integrated or individual service learning projects for Chicago Public Schools. service learning Community Partners provide project opportunities that meet the preparation, action and reflection criteria for service learning. Partners should complete the partner process and obtain certified approval status with the Department of Social Science & Civic Engagement .

Active Transportation Alliance

The mission of Active Transportation Alliance is to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift towards clean, active travel. They would like to develop MB Bike The Drive into a large service learning opportunity.

Adler Planetarium

The mission of the Adler Planetarium is to inspire exploration and understanding of our Universe. Adler Teen programs create experiences enabling youth participants to build and engage in a STEM community.

Allowance for Good

Allowance for Good (AfG) develops the rising generations of philanthropic leaders who cultivate global citizenship and empower others around the world to achieve their full potential. We educate and engage youth ages 13-18 in topics such as philanthropy, leadership development, and social entrepreneurship in order to create successful 21st century global citizens.

Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago collects, preserves, and interprets works of art of the highest quality, representing the world’s diverse artistic traditions, for the inspiration and education of the public. We ask youth to research and vision for their time in the program and to set goals for what they want to achieve and how they want to have impact on the museum, their peer youth communities, and themselves.

Autism Speaks

At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with an autism spectrum disorder. We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a possible cure for autism. We strive to raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society. Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action.

Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council

BMC&TC mission is to help create African American heritage tourism attractions and destination, in underserved communities through the State of Illinois. We do this by going into Bronzeville elementary schools and teaching the children about their authentic African American cultural heritage and how to utilize their heritage as a tool to break the cycle of poverty by creating revenue generating projects run by the students.

Center for College Access and Success of Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University's Center for College Access and Success (CCAS@NEIU) is the largest school improvement organization in Chicago. Founded in 1978, we develop collaborative partnerships that engage the entire community to help students succeed academically and socially. Through these partnerships we seek to address real needs and improve educational equity and excellence.

Center for College Access and Success of Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University's Center for College Access and Success (CCAS@NEIU) is the largest school improvement organization in Chicago. Founded in 1978, we develop collaborative partnerships that engage the entire community to help students succeed academically and socially. Through these partnerships we seek to address real needs and improve educational equity and excellence.

Chicago Botanic Garden

We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Students that participate in Science First and College First will learn about projects they can do in the in their neighborhood or school. They will be exposed to the background content, lab and library resources, as well as experts.

Chicago Cares, Inc.

Chicago Cares creates volunteer experiences that connect people and communities to meet critical needs and build a stronger Chicago. We create programming from the ground up for more than 200 schools, parks, and nonprofits. We offer a channel for long-term change and empower people to connect, lead, and transform.

Chicago Freedom School

The mission of the Chicago Freedom School is to create new generations of critical thinking young people who use their unique experiences and power to create a just world. We provide trainings and workshops that build knowledge and skills to address issues of social justice.

Chicago HOPES for Kids

Chicago HOPES for Kids provides after-school tutoring and literacy mentoring 4 days per week to elementary school children living in homeless shelters in Chicago. Our goal is to help the children succeed in school despite the challenges of homelessness.

Chicago Ideas Week

Created by Chicago Ideas Week, CIW YOU(th) is a dynamic program that provides approximately 500 Chicago High School Students in grades 9 through 12 with the opportunity to connect with the city's most influential leaders, CIW speakers, their peers and the broader community. Students will be inspired by hands-on experiences across the city through CIW Labs, attendance at CIW Talks and active participation throughout all CIW events. Access to CIW YOU(th) programming will empower students to seek new opportunities, pursue their passions and walk away with a newly inspired outlook on their own potential.

Chicago Oxfam Action Corps

Oxfam Action Corps is a grassroots effort to stand up to poverty, hunger, and injustice around the world—starting right in your community. The Action Corps is a group of trained grassroots advocates in 14 US cities who organize with other local volunteers in support of Oxfam's campaigns for policies that will save lives, defend rights of women and farmers, and protect communities worldwide from rising food prices and climate change.

Chicago Public Library

We welcome and support all people in their enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong learning. Working together, we strive to provide equal access to information, ideas and knowledge through books, programs and other resources. We believe in the freedom to read, to learn, to discover. Teen Advisory Council members along with Teen Branding Team participants will engage in deep research, survey development and distribution, investigation, and strategic planning, to understand the teen audience, literary communities, potential sponsors, and more to gain intuitive and documented insights into what will make a successful city-wide youth-led event.

Chicago Votes

We believe in the potential of our generation to use organizing and advocacy to change politics as usual. We have a deep sense of community and have a higher rate of volunteerism than any generation before us. The Chicago Votes Action Fund aims to channel these fundamental qualities into the local electoral process. We’re creating young people power that allows us to work for the issues that matter to us.

Common Cause IL

Common Cause Illinois is a nonpartisan, political advocacy group dedicated to promoting open, ethical, and accountable government on the local and state level. Currently CCIL is working on passing Automatic Voter registration on the state level as well as instituting a public campaign financing program in Chicago.

East Village Youth Program

For over 25 years EVYP has provided high-quality college resource and support services to low-income, primarily Latino youth. Our mission is to encourage and prepare underserved youth for college and career success by increasing the probability that participants will enroll in a four-year college or university and graduate. EVYP provides college readiness and support services to more than 850 students and their families.

Family Matters

a method of thinking and being that opens pathways to encouraging possibilities;

an approach to resolving conflicts that fosters both harmony and new beginnings, and

a reframing of consequences as opportunities for learning and growth.

These principles operate within all of Family Matters’ programs and yield strong relationships, meaningful communication, and empowering environments – foundations upon which personal and collective achievement can unfold.

Free the Children

We empower people to change the world, locally and globally, achieving transformative outcomes for themselves and others. The We Schools Program is a year- long educational program that nurtures compassion while developing skills for success academically, in the workplace, and as active citizens through service-based learning.

Friends of the Chicago River

The mission of Friends of the Chicago River is to improve and protect the Chicago River system for people, plants, and animals. Our vision is making the Chicago River one of the world's greatest metropolitan rivers.

Friends of the Forest Preserves

Friends of the Forest Preserves works to protect, restore and promote the 69,000 acres of forest preserves in Cook County for the benefit of people and nature. The 2,000 members of Friends do this through advocacy, ecological restoration, community outreach, and paid internships for high school students and young adults.

Global Glimpse

Global Glimpse is an innovative non-profit that works to inspire America's next generation to become responsible global citizens through after-school programming and immersion in the developing world We are committed to serving youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Illinois Security Department

The Securities Department is responsible for the regulation of the securities industry in Illinois and protection of investors by ensuring compliance with the law and investigating any complaints of fraud or improper practices. The Illinois Securities Department has made investor education a top priority. It is the goal of the Department to inform and educate all Illinois investors.

Illinois Tech Global Leaders Program

The Illinois Tech Global Leaders Program is a two-year academic enrichment program for high-achieving Chicago-area teens. We seek to inspire students to serve and lead their communities through STEM and to pursue higher education.

KidKnits

Founded by a nine-year old knitter, KidKnits directly imports handspun yarn from women living in poverty in developing countries and offers a curriculum and simple knitting kit to empower students to directly impact the lives of these women. Students then impact local communities through the donation of their finished hats.

Lead2Feed Student Leadership Program

The Lead2Feed student leadership program is the nation’s leading and fastest growing free service learning program, attracting more than a million students in 3,500 schools and clubs across all 50 states. Aligned to standards and 21st century skills, Lead2Feed is making a huge difference in participants’ lives and the programs they create. Enter student projects and win up to $25,000 for your charity AND up to $25,000 in technology products for your school.

Maker MOB

The Maker MOB aims to reach families unfamiliar with the maker movement to create a community of makers in communities underrepresented in the STEM fields using students and Chicago institutions to lad STEM activities at neighborhood events.

Mentorship Institute

We change lives by facilitating community learning projects. The Mentorship Institute provides formal project-management and leadership training for professional staff, while high school participants are taking separate courses in college readiness, workforce development, and interpersonal skills. The two groups are paired to complete service projects.

Mikva Challenge

Mikva Challenge develops youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders. We do this by engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise.

Navona Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The mission of the NOCC is to save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors. Through local Chapter initiatives, the NOCC's goal is to make more people aware of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer, provide information to assist the newly diagnosed patient, and to provide hope to survivors.

ONE

ONE is an international campaigning and advocacy organization of more than 7 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, because the facts show extreme poverty has already been cut by 60% and can be virtually eliminated by 2030, but only if we act with urgency now.

Openlands

Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives.

Park Manor Elementary School Alumni Association

The Mission of the PMAA is to promote and foster a spirit of excellence, through our service as ambassadors for the Students, the Principal, the School and the Park Manor Community; providing wisdom, experience, stewardship, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

Providence Family Services

Providence Family Services was established to provide services to those living in West Humboldt Park and surrounding areas of Chicago. Established on Christian values, it provides support and direction in assisting individuals, couples, and families to make changes that will allow them to achieve wholeness and an awareness of their personal gifts.

The Anti-Cruelty Society

To build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. All of our on- and off-site Humane Education Programs expand upon the general ideas of proper pet care and respect for life that we try to instill though our service learning projects.

The Chicago Park District

As a Teens in the Park intern, students will have an active role in planning Chicago’s park district's teen music festival. Students will join our team to create a complete experience. Candidates must have strong communication and leadership capabilities. We are looking for a number of candidates with experience in graphic design and web development to act as junior social network managers in campaigning for teens in Chicago.

The Field Museum

The Roots & Routes (R&R) Initiative is a shared vision of a healthy urban green space and collaborative programming that will inspire and educate neighbors of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor (BWC). The Chicago Teen Environmental Committee (CTEC) project is under the R&R umbrella and is tasked specifically to work with high school students on stewardship and environmental/community action-based research.

The People’s Music School

Our mission is to deliver access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education. Through intensive instruction and performance, our students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience and purpose.

The Philanthropy Project

The Philanthropy Project online platform supports students in creating their own service campaigns, while leading them through the Five Stages of Service Learning. Students gain valuable skills and learn how to become advocates for a cause they care about. Educators have confidence that students are engaging in meaningful service learning experiences. Participation is a win-win for everyone involved!

the VING project

The VING project is a national movement sparking the next generation of givers. Backed by an anonymous family in Chicago that believes in the spirit of giving, teens have an opportunity to give an individual in need an encouraging boost by surprising them with $1,000.

Tree House Humane Society

Tree House is a humane organization that promotes the inherent value of every animal, with a focus on the care and placement of stray cats with special physical and emotional needs. We are committed to being innovative with our approach to creating a more humane community and believe in the power of education to empower individuals and transform communities.

U.S Fund for UNICEF

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work, and other efforts in support of the world's children, through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. UNICEF does whatever it takes to save and protect the world's most vulnerable children. Forty years ago, UNICEF figured out that promoting simple, low-cost interventions like hand washing and breastfeeding could save millions of lives. Undaunted by war or geography, UNICEF delivers.

University of Illinois Extension

The mission of University of Illinois Extension is “to enable people to improve their lives and communities through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work.” We offer interdisciplinary programs to address Cook County's most critical issues. Extension teams work together with focus and commitment.

Yollocalli Arts Reach of the National Museum of Mexican Art

Yollocalli Arts Reach is a youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art. Our mission is to create an experiential learning environment that encourages youth autonomy through a progressive dialogue in urban and youth culture.

Youth Health Leadership Corp (CCHE)

CCHE seeks to eliminate new HIV transmission events over the next 30 years (from 2011 to 2041) by using network science to target and integrate prevention as well as create structural and community-specific interventions.

The Department of Social Science & Civic Engagement will award certified community partner status to organizations that (1) complete the application, (2) attend orientation and (3) demonstrate academic enrichment and contribution to the common good through service learning projects.

Partners will receive a letter indicating if they have been awarded certified partner status.

Approved service learning Community Partners will be added to a list of certified partners that will be published online at cps.edu/servicelearning and shared with service learning Coaches and teachers throughout the district.

Historically, CPS has worked with community partners to support service learning and we value the relationships that we have developed over the past 15 years. To strengthen service learning practice across the district and expand service through civic action and advocacy, the partner process was established to better facilitate the relationship between community organizations and schools, we invite community partners to help us achieve district goals and priorities and ensure that project opportunities meet service learning criteria.

This process intends to support teachers by providing a list of vetted partners that can support classroom-integrated service learning projects. This process also assists students who are looking for out-of-school opportunities for civic action and service learning.

Since 1998, Chicago Public Schools has required students to complete 40 service-learning hours in order to graduate. Service-learning is a teaching strategy that connects classroom curriculum with service projects. Service-learning engages students in projects that serve the community while building social, civic, and academic skills.

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Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school district in the United States with more than 600 schools and serves 371,000 children. Our vision is that every student in every neighborhood will be engaged in a rigorous, well-rounded instructional program and will graduate prepared for success in college, career and life.